Fountain striping device



March 28, 1939.

C. E. BURKEY FOUNTAIN STRIPING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1937 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE FOUNTAIN STRIPING DEVICE Carl E. Burkey, Seattle, Wash.

Application May 24, 1937, Serial No. 144,501

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of liquid feeding devices and more particularly to a fountain striping device.

This invention has, in common with many 5 such devices, a wheel that is intended to roll over the surface where the stripe is desired; my

device, however, is so constructed that the liquid, such as lacquer, paint, ink, or the like, is

wiped from a compressible, fibrous pad, which 10 is saturated with the liquid, and then rolls across the surface carrying the striping fluid with it, thus transferring the liquid from the container to the surface to be treated.

The principal object of my present invention 15 is to provide means for controlling the amount of liquid carried by the transferring roller, or

wheel, and to provide means whereby the liquid will be distributed equally over the surface.

A further object of my present invention is no to provide that the body of liquid adjacent the transfer roller will be substantially uniform for an appreciable period so that a stripe of uniform weight, or intensity, can be imprinted as, for instance, around an automobile body.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby a controlled but substantially uniform flow of fluid may be maintained.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the continuous sup- 30 ply of fluid may be easily obtained.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein 35 Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my striper with the transfer pad removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view through my striper, the same being shown as broken in its mid-section so as to provide a large scale view 40 of the essential parts.

m Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view through the lower end of my striper, as viewed, the cutting plane being revolved ninety degrees from that in Figure 2. r

45 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing-the fluid transfer pad that is used in the lower portion of my striper the same being viewed in the same a sense as Figure 1. V

(Cl. ill-62.6)

may be of any convenient size, although I find I a tube substantially the size of an automatic pencil very satisfactory for stripers of small size. On the inner surface of tube 12 I provide, preferably, a continuous thread. This thread might have any desired form; however, as a retardantto provide a slow, uniform feed, a square thread appears to be most desirable. When this form of thread shown in the drawing at M is used the land portion 16 can be relatively narrow, with the groove portion [8 of substantial width. Frictionally secured to the upper end of tube 12 is a cap 20. This cap is provided with a. reduced diameter bore 22 of such a size as to compress the fibres of core 24 and. thus provide a reasonably secure engagement of the core within cap 20. In the extreme lower end of tube 20 I provide the transfer wheel 26 which is free to revolve upon pin 28. Wheel 26 may be formed of any suitable material and be constructed along the proven form of striper wheels.

The one shown in Figure 1' is a plain rubber, or

' does not extend all the way to the lower end of the tube but stops somewhat short thereof as illustrated in Figures 2 and a. The slot 34 which must be formed to accommodate wheel 26 is extended upwardly so as to form a seat, or holder, for the renewable transfer pad 36. This pad may be of any suitable, fibrous material. For most fluids felt will serve best although it is to be understood that certain types of striping fiuid might require different material at. this point.

p The fibrous pad, however, is bound together by a metal cover, or collar, 38 which is curved on its short sides on the same radius as tube l2 so that when the unit is slipped into slot 34 collar 32 can then he slipped downwardly and adequately secure the member in its operating position.

The interior core 24 is preferably formed after u the manner of' the ordinary twisted wire pipe cleaner in which tufts of flbrous material 40 are P aced between wires 42 and the same twisted to give the round core common to pipe cleaners. This core, being in effect spirally laid, assists in producing a uniform flow to the fluid. It will be observed that the outside diameter of core 24 is substantially equal to, or just slightly greater than, the diameter of the inside of the thread lands l6. In this manner a spiral pathway entirely encircling core 24 is provided down the full length of the core. This provides a channel and because of its great length, due to the large number of turns involved,v the striping fluid is fed downwardly at a fairly uniform rate thus providing an even saturation of pad 46 and a corresponding evenness to the striped line. It will be understood that this action takes place only when the striping device is held in a vertical position with the wheel downwardly. However, if the striping requires working overhead, or horizontally, it is found best to withdraw core 24 about two-thirds of its length, turn it by means of cap 20 so as to use the spiral arrangement of the core to screw the liquid down into pad 36 and thus build up sumcient liquid pressure to assure uniform feed to roller 24.

To charge my device with fluid, cap 20 is removed from'tube l2 carrying with it core 24. This core is immersed in the fluid to be used, and then inserted back into tube II. The fluid will then drain out of the flbrous material and be carried down the spiral groove ii.

For certain uses a supply of liquid might be held in .a reservoir after the manner of a fountain pen, for instance, or a slender rubber tubing might lead from. a central supply, attached to the belt of the user, to the cap 20 of the striper so that recharging may be more easily accomplished where a quantity of striping is to be done.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawing are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims:

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fountain striping device comprising a cas ing having a helical passage on its inner face, liquid retaining means within said casing and forming a wall for said passage, a striping wheel supported from said casing, and means for transferring liquid from the end of said passage to said wheel when the said wheel is rotated.

2. A fountain paint striper comprising a casing having an enlarged end and having an interior helical groove, a wheel fork seated in said enlarged end, a striping wheel journaled in said fork, compressible means in said casing for retaining the paint supply, and for discharging the paint under pressure into said groove, and paint transfer means between the lower end of said groove and said striping wheel.

3. A fountain striping device comprising a casing having a helical passage on its inner face, liquid retaining means within said casing and forming a wall ,for said passage, a notched striping wheel supported from said casing, and means for continually transferring liquid from the end of said passage to said wheel when the said wheel is rotated.

4. A fountain paint striper comprising a casing having an enlarged end and having an interior helical groove, a wheel fork seated in said enlarged end, a striping wheel journaled in said fork, compressible means in said casing for retaining the paint supply, and for discharging the paint under pressure into said groove, and a fibrous paint transfer pad between the lower end of said groove and said striping wheel.

- CARL E. BURKEY. 

